Rode a buddy's Cannondale for a stretch. VERY stiff-riding bike even now.

The frame that intrigues me at the moment is the Pedal Force ZX3. Looks exactly like the Litespeed somethingoranother carbon frame...

I really, really miss my SL Battaglin. Smmmmmooooottttthhhhh was the word. Great for all day rides. Sucked misery goats for sprinting! I could watch the BB area swayin and sashayin around when I was stomping on them pedals. That's the bike that I had all Sachs New Success on. Great stuff.

Granted (get it?!) some of what he sez is good stuff, but not all of it.

M

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Hey, Grant never, never said, "'ya gotta ride like this". He simply has a different philosophy about appropriate gear and he isn't shy about it. I don't agree with him about everything, like I think he's missed the boat on STI, but much of what he advocates makes more sense than the typical main stream marketing BS.

Hey, Grant never, never said, "'ya gotta ride like this". He simply has a different philosophy about appropriate gear and he isn't shy about it. I don't agree with him about everything, like I think he's missed the boat on STI, but much of what he advocates makes more sense than the typical main stream marketing BS.

I have a friend who rides a Pista in NYC. He loves it, but said that he put a front brake on the thing after 2 near-death experiences in his first week of ownership. My one longish ride on another friend's fixie was loads of fun, but left my knees sore the next day. I could see having one to ride every week or two as a change of pace, but not for my primary ride.

I test-rode several bikes over the past week, looking for a decent rugged road bike to take over commuter duty from the mediocre flat-bar hybrid I've been using. Most of the bikes I tried were Al-framed cyclocross bikes. I ended up buying a Bianchi Volpe yesterday. Steel frame, and the cheapest and probably the heaviest of the bikes I tried. But I chose it because of ride quality and gearing more appropriate to my use, not price.

I was up late last night transferring farkles from the old commuter to the new, and then had trouble getting to sleep because I was itching to get up and ride the thing to work. The old hybrid is going to get fitted with the fattest tires it'll take, and then used as a quasi-mountain-bike on some local trails.

I have a friend who rides a Pista in NYC. He loves it, but said that he put a front brake on the thing after 2 near-death experiences in his first week of ownership. My one longish ride on another friend's fixie was loads of fun, but left my knees sore the next day. I could see having one to ride every week or two as a change of pace, but not for my primary ride.

I test-rode several bikes over the past week, looking for a decent rugged road bike to take over commuter duty from the mediocre flat-bar hybrid I've been using. Most of the bikes I tried were Al-framed cyclocross bikes. I ended up buying a Bianchi Volpe yesterday. Steel frame, and the cheapest and probably the heaviest of the bikes I tried. But I chose it because of ride quality and gearing more appropriate to my use, not price.

I was up late last night transferring farkles from the old commuter to the new, and then had trouble getting to sleep because I was itching to get up and ride the thing to work. The old hybrid is going to get fitted with the fattest tires it'll take, and then used as a quasi-mountain-bike on some local trails.

Physically, I was 100% a few weeks later, despite the br0ken stuff like pelvis & skull.

Mentally, I lost my 35-year love affair with riding in the hills outdoors. But strangely, I found a new love: my trainer in the garage, surrounded by home theater equipment.

No flats, no sunscreen, no having to fill my jersey pockets with energy bars, no waiting for red lights, no coasting down hills, no bee stings, no drunks buzzing me in SUVs. Just a great workout while watching 24, etc.

I know, I'm one in a thousand who likes a trainer. But I really love it!

Physically, I was 100% a few weeks later, despite the br0ken stuff like pelvis & skull.

Mentally, I lost my 35-year love affair with riding in the hills outdoors. But strangely, I found a new love: my trainer in the garage, surrounded by home theater equipment.

No flats, no sunscreen, no having to fill my jersey pockets with energy bars, no waiting for red lights, no coasting down hills, no bee stings, no drunks buzzing me in SUVs. Just a great workout while watching 24, etc.

I know, I'm one in a thousand who likes a trainer. But I really love it!

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Hey C, were you wearing a helmet when that happened (or is that a stupid question..)?

Physically, I was 100% a few weeks later, despite the br0ken stuff like pelvis & skull.

Mentally, I lost my 35-year love affair with riding in the hills outdoors. But strangely, I found a new love: my trainer in the garage, surrounded by home theater equipment.

No flats, no sunscreen, no having to fill my jersey pockets with energy bars, no waiting for red lights, no coasting down hills, no bee stings, no drunks buzzing me in SUVs. Just a great workout while watching 24, etc.

I know, I'm one in a thousand who likes a trainer. But I really love it!

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yer a sick bastage there Baldy!

'Course if I was almost kilt by a driver, I'd have second (and third, and fourth) thoughts about getting back out there too! Problem is... I don't TT and riding in a pack requires a certain familliarity with what's going on.

You thought about track racing? There's no cars there either!

Good luck with yer riding there tough guy!

I just (re-)saw that yer up the road from me now. IF you wanna go for a ride outside, lemme know. I'd love to get my arse handed to me by you. (where's that brown-nosing smilie when you need one?!)

forks schmorks it ain't in the forks that the good ride happens. About the only thing you'll notice besides a little different level of vibration is a little weight. If yer not racin, an extra pound ain't THAT big a deal!

There's been generations of pro cyclists honing that 'go fast' position. Ya think they may have it right?!

M

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No question that Grant's outlook would be bad advice for racers and those who aspire to race. I think his point is that the mainstream market has largely ignored those who want reliablity and comfort and don't care about those last 2-4 mph. He also doesn't like teh look of modern bikes, but that of course is subjective.

Frankly, dropping 4 punds off a bike just isn't going to make me go faster and if I wanted to fold myself into a preztle, I'd take up yoga.